Kuyt was 'too big' to stay in the Dutch game

Liverpool's new striker Dirk Kuyt says the Netherlands coach, Marco van Basten, suggested he was "too big" for the Dutch league and needed to move to England.

"Marco van Basten has told me this is a very good move not only for myself but for the Dutch team," said Kuyt, who will probably sit out today's game at Sheffield United following his move from Feyenoord and is ineligible for Tuesday's Champions' League game against Maccabi Haifa.

"I know there is a lot of competition up front, but that is only good for the team. Not everybody can play 50-60 games a season.

"I have watched a lot of Liverpool games [and] I know Bolo [Boudewijn Zenden], Jan Kromkamp, Sami Hyypia and Jerzy Dudek. They can all speak Dutch to me.

"Liverpool is very famous too in Holland, so nobody has to tell me much about the club."